Pygmalion's title harkened from its predecessor, Ovid's Pygmalion which accounted a woman-hating sculptor falling in love with his own sculpture of his desired image. Wide Sargasso Sea referred to the sea surrounding Dominica, the setting of Jean Rhys's
Lek Susan SIM-OUC PI No.: K0503345 12th August 2005 TMA 07 George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion was about Higgins, a phonetics expert, who, as a kind of social experiment, attempts to make a duchess out of an uneducated Cockney flower-girl, Eliza. Pygmalion followed some traditional rules. First, the play was based on Eliza's transformation as the main theme. Higgins claimed he could pass Eliza off as a duchess in three months. (Block 5, page 14) Secondly, the virtual sixth act, the ball, was inserted in the book but was absent from the stage version. Shaw understood the essence of traditional convention by excluding the ball which was extravagant and technically taxing. (Block 5, page 11) Lastly, Pygmalion also conformed to the traditional five-act structure which allowed breakdown of actions into five balanced sections: beginning (first act), development (second act), climax (third act), turning-point (fourth act) and denouement (fifth act). (Block 5, page 12) The adage said, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Shaw avoided the familiar 'Cinderella' and 'wedding-bells' ending for Higgins and Eliza. Shaw included the fairy-tale formula but excluded the romantic ending as he hated to be predictable. (Block 5, page 32) Shaw's play was realistic and economical. Firstly, he chose to rise the curtain on an empty stage thrice to achieve an elaborated, unusual and real-looking
Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis - plot analysis.
Linda Lapina English A1 Analysis Franz Kafka Metamorphosis Plot The story starts as Gregor Samsa, a travelling merchant who dislikes his job but has kept it because of his father's debt to his boss, wakes up in an ordinary morning- what is unordinary is that he has turned into a giant bug. However, Gregor's transformation is only outward, and he is not much alarmed and is more worried about oversleeping than his becoming an insect. He plans to catch a later train to get to work. Meanwhile, Gregor's family has noticed his unusual presence at home so late in the morning and try talking to him through the door of Gregor's room. Initially, Gregor succeeds in telling them that he will come right out; later, his speech becomes irreprehensible. Just as he finally has found a way to get out of the bed, his annoying, fastidious chief clerk has arrived to investigate his absence from work that day (in 15 years of service, G. has never missed a single day at work). G. tries to explain his situation, but his words can no longer be made out; his sister and maid are sent to get doctor and locksmith; finally, he manages to unlock the door, hurting his jaws. As the chief clerk sees him, he begins to panic; Gregor's family is shocked, especially his sensitive mother, while his father violently drives Gregor back into his room, not giving him time to enter properly. Gregor severely hurts
The function of landscape or the environment in Jane Eyre.
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre The function of landscape or the environment in Jane Eyre. ***** We must first distinguish between the above options. 'Landscape' seems more restrictive to terms of geography than 'environment', which, as the focus of this essay, I am interpreting as referring to physical surroundings and their effect in creating intangible environmental aspects of the social, spiritual, and atmospheric. Ostensibly this could include certain elements of landscape, and I will be discussing some brief relevant descriptions in the context of environment as a more holistic concept. So to what purpose does Brontë put her description of environment in Jane Eyre? According to Delia da Sousa Correa, we are made aware from the offset of the novel of the 'intense relationship... between the description of external conditions and the portrayal of individual thoughts and feelings' which 'establishes Jane's consciousness at the centre of the narrative'. How each 'external description conveys Jane's...feelings' and also how they foreshadow later events and settings. Brontë's use of imagery and symbolism in her description of environment is integral to the novel. She uses the setting to further the reader's appreciation of Jane's inner feelings, physically expressing, complimenting, and intensifying her emotions. The autobiographical first person narrative style of Jane
The Women of Shirley.
The Women of Shirley In many works, authors use a type of process to lead towards the end of their work. In Charlotte Bronte's Shirley the two major female characters, Shirley Keeldar and Caroline Helstone, go through two different paths. Social status is the rank, for a better term, of a person in society. It is where an individual stands in regards to his or her respective community. Sometimes the presence or lack thereof a prominent business, wealth, political power, or family name plays a major role in a person's position in society. Social status can affect an individual's personality. Personality is the character of an individual; it includes how a person carries his/her self, attitude, and demeanor. Personality can affect the individuals' love life and interests. It plays a significant role on who an individual is attracted to, as well as who is attracted to said individual. To state this succinctly: Social status can affect personality, and personality can affect someone's love life and interests. The goal of this essay is to analyze the processes that Caroline Helstone and Shirley Keeldar go through. I will specifically analyze the idea of love and relationships regarding both characters. The aim is to show the paths these women take and how they determine their futures. The title character, Shirley Keeldar, is introduced relatively late in the novel in
In her novel The Professor, author Charlotte Bronte details and develops the life and experiences of narrator and main character William Crimsworth.
Elsbeth Loughrey Writing 125 February 19, 2002 In her novel The Professor, author Charlotte Bronte details and develops the life and experiences of narrator and main character William Crimsworth. After graduating from Eton College in England, Crimsworth is in need of an occupation. He stubbornly refuses offers from his uncles, and consequently finds himself with no other choice than to work for his tyrannical brother in the menial position of clerk. However, his conditions soon become unbearable, and through an acquaintance's recommendation, William secures himself employment as a professor at a boys' school in Brussels. William's arrival in Belgium presents him with new opportunities both professionally and personally, as he almost immediately meets two women who are to change his existence dramatically: Zoraide Reuter and Frances Henri. Bronte creates and emphasizes many differences and similarities between these two women using various techniques and methods, which primarily include comparison and contrast. Zoraide and Frances each have their own significant and individual role in the life of and interaction with William Crimsworth. Each woman possesses different kinds of physical and mental attributes, comes from a unique background, and enters into and affects his life in a contrasting way. These differences, along with a few similarities, are explored
Male Heterosexual Desire as a Product of Power Differentials in M. Butterfly
Male Heterosexual Desire as a Product of Power Differentials in M. Butterfly What is the definition of the perfect woman, the symbol of male heterosexual desire? Is it a woman who has a picture perfect body, with a beautiful face, nice legs, and the rest of the body to match? Or is it something more, something other than just physical appearance? In Hwang's M. Butterfly, Gallimard seems to be attracted to a number of different characteristics in women, but he keeps going back to one woman in particular. Gallimard has his wife, Helga. The play hints that Helga is unattractive and not someone that a man would find desirable. Then Gallimard has his first affair with Song, a submissive Oriental woman, or so he thinks, who is attractive and modest. And lastly there's Renee, who is completely beautiful, the woman of every man's dreams. In M. Butterfly, the male heterosexual desire is a product of power differentials, where Gallimard is most attracted to the woman that has the least power, giving him even more. Helga is introduced in act one, scene five, where Gallimard himself hints that Helga is unattractive, or at least, not beautiful. This impression is given when he says, "the sad truth is that all men want a beautiful woman, and the uglier the man, the greater the want" (Hwang 14). Then later in the play, after Gallimard has met Song, his old friend from school,
The Image of the book in Jane Eyre is associated with power and possession. John Reed asserts his authority and property rights over Jane and rather surprisingly the objects he focuses on are his books:
Pursue a single image (for example hands, water, books) or a single topic (for example, religion, illness, travel) in one of the set texts, constructing a case about the text on the basis of what you know. Books in Jane Eyre. The Image of the book in Jane Eyre is associated with power and possession. John Reed asserts his authority and property rights over Jane and rather surprisingly the objects he focuses on are his books: You have no business to take our books: you are a dependant, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none: Now I'll teach you to rummage my bookshelves: for they are mine; all the house belongs to me, or will do in a few years time.1 John Reed has just forced Jane away from her only means of escape: reading. It is an interesting idea: possession of the word equates with possession of power. Jane resists such an arbitrary display of power and does so time and time again by being associated with the presence of books and as such, possession and control of language. We first see this when Jane steals a few moments to become absorbed in the written word: With Bewick on my knee I was happy: happy at least in my way. I feared nothing but interruption, and that came too soon. (p.9) But the Reeds deny Jane access to books and even attack her with them (p.11). The reader is aware that Jane has much to fear but lost in her fantasy world, she
Compare and contrast the representation of femininity in Pygmalion and Wide Sargasso Sea
Compare and contrast the representation of femininity in Pygmalion and Wide Sargasso Sea This paper will attempt to compare and contrast the representations of femininity in the novel Wide Sargasso Sea (WSS) and the play Pygmalion. It will investigate any ways in which the works reflect or challenge commonly held social representations of femininity, and will compare and contrast each representation of femininity and then investigate any themes. It will also consider the counterpoint of masculine representation, and lastly the limitations of a comparison between two texts of different disciplines. These two titles were products of very different cultures; Pygmalion was written in 1912 by the thoroughly British Bernard Shaw, a self-proclaimed feminist, while WSS was written in 1966 by Jean Rhys, a Caribbean Creole (like her main characters) who immigrated to England in her teens. These texts were not intended to be textbooks, or represent any views other than the authors, but by comparing these texts we may find how the ideas of femininity have changed in the intervening years. Shaw's feminism might be expected to have influenced his portrayal of the female characters in his work, so the reader should be aware of a possible feminist subtext. WSS is set in the Caribbean of the 1830's, and was written for a primarily English audience. The author might therefore be expected to
How does Charlotte Bronte build up tension? Using chapter 23 to illustrate.
How does Charlotte Bronte build up tension? Using chapter 23 to illustrate. Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre in 1847. Throughout this novel Bronte criticises and challenges some views and believes that she experienced herself within the injustice of the Victorian society. In this essay I am going to use chapter 23 to show how tension is built up in terms of language, feelings and symbols. Firstly, I'm going to include a brief summery of the plot and at the same time highlight the main characters I'll be working with. Secondly, I will include the history of the time the book was written in and comment on how it links with the story. Finally, I am going to point out and explain the many different techniques Bronte uses to build up tension. Jane Eyre opens with the narrator, the adult Jane Eyre recalling her childhood experiences growing up as an orphan at Gateshead, the home of her unfriendly aunt, and her children. Jane is always wrongly punished, she was even sent away to Lowwood charity school where pupils are treated appallingly. There she passes six years as a student, then two as a teacher. After that Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield, owned by Mr. Rochester. Jane falls in love with her master and Rochester asks Jane to marry him, she agreed. On the day of their marriage Jane discovers that Rochester is already married, she then refuses to be Rochester's mistress
In the beginning of the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Grete plays a very important role in the life of Gregor.
In the beginning of the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Grete plays a very important role in the life of Gregor. Grete is portrayed as a loving and devoted sister with an amazing musical talent. Her seemingly strong bond to her brother remains even after Gregor's transformation. She shows her devotion when she takes sole responsibility as Gregor's caretaker and only provider. She cleans up after him and assures he is fed each day. By doing this she still seems to care for her brother despite his condition. It is also Grete that comes up with the idea to move out all of Gregor's furniture so that he may have more space to move around his room more freely. However as the novel progresses Grete becomes more and more distant and begins to drift away from her brother. One can notice that Grete seems to have done all this work and cared for Gregor only out of family duty rather than for actual human relations. It is almost as though she has to pay back Gregor for all he has done but money is the only reason she is doing this. This shows us one noticeable theme in this novel: how money drives us as people. Our whole world is based around money just as the case for the Samsas. When Gregor becomes ill he hears his sister weeping in the room next to him and he reasons, thinking "why was she crying? Because he wouldn't get up and let the chief clerk in, because he was in danger of loosing